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Transcript of the Governor's media session
Following is the transcript of the media session given by the Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten, after attending the 60th Anniversary Cocktail Reception of Boys' and Girls' Clubs Association of Hong Kong this (Tuesday) evening:
Question: You have made an order to investigate the Judge Caird case. Can you respond...?
Governor: It's almost without precedent to establish the tribunal, but I regard it as imperative that we remove any doubts that may have been caused by this case about the quality of our judiciary. The acting Chief Justice was very concerned to clear the air. He asked me if I would establish a tribunal. I took legal advice from the Attorney General but had no real hesitation in responding to the Acting Chief Justice's request. I hope that the tribunal will be able to get on with its work reasonably quickly and that we'll have a satisfactory outcome as rapidly as possible.
I have, perhaps you could wait until I've finished.
I have great confidence in our judiciary and in the administration of justice in Hong Kong and I'm keen that everybody else in the community and beyond should have that confidence too.
Question: Why has the Government made the conclusion already before the tribunal has been set up, that the judge has made an ...?
Governor: But you misunderstand the nature of the tribunal. The tribunal has the job of inquiring into the circumstances surrounding a particular piece of behaviour and then has to decide whether it should recommend to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council the dismissal of a judge. And while a tribunal is working it would obviously be inappropriate for a judge to be still in his position. But the tribunal doesn't come to any decision before it sets out on the road of inquiry. It reaches its conclusions and then reports those to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.
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Question: if the case goes against him, is their still time for the Privy Council to decide ...?
Governor: Yes, we believe that there is. We've obviously checked on that.
Question: And how long do you think the tribunal will take to give its verdict?